I evaluated a home health patient and I need help determining if OT is indicated. The patient's primary diagnosis is Alz. dementia. She also was recently d/c'd from the hospital secondary to a non-healing brown recluse spider bite, s/p 5 years ago.
Her score on the SLUMS cogn screen is a 6/30, indicating mod-severe dementia. She lives with her husband, who is healthy but has had two recent falls in their modular home. The husband does all the housework, cooking and driving. The patient performs her own basic selfcare with supervison. She req. occasional asst. with sequencing for dressing. The patient reports she is an active reader. She attends church services every Sunday. The patient has no stated goals. She reports being "happy and content" with her life. She says that everyone else is worried about her memory but she knows that it will get better. The husband states it would be nice if his wife were able to help out in the kitchen. I told the husband that I needed to ponder the situation. I wasn't sure if I could help his wife or not. So, I'm turning to you guys. My wife suggested that I work with both the husband and the patient to teach him how to better integrate his wife into the daily routines. I presented this idea to him tonight on the phone and he said: "hum, I need to think about that". So, what do you guys say. Can OT help this lady? If so, how???????? Thanks, Ron ~~~ Ron Carson MHS, OT www.OTnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
